SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 301
(By Senators Unger and Tomblin, Mr. President)
Requesting the Base Realignment and Closure Commission reject the
recommendations of the Secretary of the United States
Department of Defense for closure of military facilities in
West Virginia and the transfer of military aircraft to any
other location.
Whereas, Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of the United States
Department of Defense, has recommended the closure of three
military facilities in West Virginia and the transfer of C-130
aircraft currently maintained in West Virginia; and
Whereas, The Army Reserve centers in Huntington and Fairmont
and the Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Center in Moundsville help
provide economic stability and employment opportunities to many
West Virginians; and
Whereas, The Air National Guard base at Yeager Airport in
Charleston, home of the 130th Airlift Wing and the C-130 military
aircraft, has been a longtime symbol of pride for many West
Virginians. The 130th Airlift Wing provides roughly 1,000 jobs.
The transfer of C-130 aircraft from the 130th Airlift Wing will
cause the loss of more than 150 jobs; and
Whereas, As an already economically challenged state, West
Virginia cannot stand to lose jobs as a direct result of the closing of military facilities and the transfer of C-130 aircraft;
and
Whereas, C-130 aircraft provide assistance by delivering much-
needed supplies, vehicles and troops to many areas of West Virginia
and other parts of the nation that suffer disasters; and
Whereas, At a time when homeland security is a major issue,
the security of West Virginia and its citizens will be threatened
by the loss of C-130 aircraft; and
Whereas, Since the Korean War, C-130 aircraft have represented
the great State of West Virginia in numerous conflicts, including
the present war in Iraq; and
Whereas, West Virginians have always stood united in efforts
to keep America strong. Per capita, more West Virginians have
served in the armed forces of our nation than any other state in
the union;
Whereas, The Legislature supports Senator Robert C. Byrd who
is leading the congressional delegation, consisting of Senator John
D. Rockefeller IV, Representative Alan B. Mollohan, Representative
Shelley Moore Capito and Representative Nick J. Rahall II, in these
efforts on the federal level; and
Whereas, As elected representatives of the citizens of West
Virginia, it is the Legislature's constitutional duty to preserve
and protect our citizens and their prosperity. The Legislature
strongly requests that the members of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission reject the recommendations of Defense Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld as they relate to closing any military facility and
the transfer of any C-130 aircraft from West Virginia; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Base Realignment and
Closure Commission reject the recommendations of the Secretary of
the United States Department of Defense for closure of military
facilities in West Virginia and the transfer of military aircraft
to any other location; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to President George
W. Bush; Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; Chairman of the Base
Realignment and Closure Commission Anthony Principi; Commission
members James Bilhray, Philip Coyle, Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr.,
James V. Hensen, General James T. Hill, General Lloyd Newton,
Samuel Knox Skinner and General Sue Ellen Turner; and West
Virginia's congressional delegation.